Ina Parlina and Yuliasri Perdani, Jakarta – Four candidates for the National Police chief position, including a former adjutant of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, have submitted incomplete wealth reports to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), prompting suspicions that they could have amassed ill-gotten wealth.
The KPK, upon request from the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), is currently screening the potential candidates and will verify the wealth reports.
One of candidates for the police top job, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Putut Eko Bayuseno, a former adjutant to Yudhoyono, came to the KPK headquarters on Thursday to submit his wealth report that was reported to be only Rp 482 million (US$46,754) when he last submitted it to the antigraft body in 2002, while he served as chief of the Jember Police.
"I was busy being the President's adjutant," Putut said when asked why he had only submitted his wealth report in 2002.
The 51-year-old Putut served as the President's adjutant in 2009 before being promoted to chief of the Banten and West Java Police. He was appointed to head the Jakarta Police in October last year.
Putut, who is considered one of strongest candidates in the race, said his assets had increased, especially with his purchases of cars and land.
Putut also shrugged off speculation that he had been tapped to replace Gen. Timur Pradopo by saying: "I will still focus on my work as Jakarta Police chief." Putut has also asked for promotion to a three-star general, to be eligible to lead a force of around 550,000 personnel.
Also submitting his wealth report on Thursday was National Police criminal investigations division chief Comr. Gen. Sutarman, who is also considered a strong candidate.
The 55-year-old Sutarman openly opposed the KPK investigation into Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo, a defendant in a graft case surrounding the Rp 144 billion vehicle simulator procurement project.
The former West Java Police chief was appointed as Jakarta Police chief in October 2010, replacing Timur. Sutarman started his current post as chief detective in July 2011.
His 2012 wealth report shows that Sutarman had Rp 5.346 billion worth of assets and savings of $24,194, a slight increase from Rp 5.315 billion in 2011. He also recorded $24,175 savings in 2011.
Two other candidates in the race for the police's top job, National Narcotics Agency (BNN) chief Comr. Gen. Anang Iskandar and Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. Arif Wachyunadi, submitted their wealth reports to the KPK on Monday and Wednesday, respectively
The last time Anang disclosed his wealth was in 2009. Then, the police general, who was serving at the BNN's drug abuse prevention center, had Rp 2.4 billion in assets. In 2002, his wealth was Rp 1.2 billion.
In September 2012, Arif, who served as West Nusa Tenggara Police chief, had assets worth Rp 4.5 billion, a decrease from Rp 4.5 billion in July 2010.
The KPK is giving the other five candidates another week to submit their wealth reports.
Kompolnas had also asked the Financial Transaction and Reports Analysis Centre (PPATK) and the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to assess the financial and human rights records of the hopefuls.
Kompolnas will then submit the results of the background checks to Yudhoyono. Kompolnas members have suggested that Sutarman, Anang and the force's education division chief Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan will lead the race.
Antigraft watchdogs are skeptical that the candidates can do away with the culture of corruption in the force, especially with the revelation that some high-ranking officials have large amounts of wealth.